up to 90 percent of victims know their assailant[1], whether it be an acquaintance or even a partner or family member. Another public misconception is that rape does not happen to men, despite statistics showing that 1 in 6 males have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime.[2] There is also the belief that victims should have seen the attack coming and taken preventative measures such as avoiding dark alleys or dressing modestly; this attitude contributes to what is known as ‘victim blaming’. Victim blaming occurs when people who experience a crime are held responsible for its occurrence instead of the perpetrator.[3] This form of blame takes various forms and includes attitudes such as suggesting they invited the attack due to their behaviour or clothing choice, implying they could have prevented it through better decision-making, accusing them of seeking attention with false accusations or dismissing them because they do not fit stereotypes regarding how survivors should act.[4] Victims of sexual crimes are more likely to experience this kind of blame than other types since there continues to be stigma surrounding consenting adults engaging in intimate activities outside marriage[5]; coupled with social pressure on women who speak out against such experiences, many feel too ashamed or scared to report them at all.[6] Comparing two countries highlights significant differences when it comes to victim blaming related to sexual violence. For instance, studies conducted in India[7], which has one of the highest rates of reported rapes worldwide,[8] indicate high levels of victim-blaming based on patriarchal beliefs concerning gender roles and expectations for women’s behaviour; this ranges from suggestions that “women had brought their suffering upon themselves by disobeying traditional norms”[9] right down to stating she was “not well brought up” if she got raped while walking home alone late at night [10]. In contrast, victim-blaming appears less prevalent in Australia where multiple campaigns (e.g., No Blame Game) exist specifically targeting these kinds of attitudes within society; moreover those accused receive greater support from organisations like Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia (RDVSA).[11][12][13]. This illustrates both nations' contrasting approach towards supporting survivors beyond merely punishing offenders – something which will ultimately shape wider views around personal responsibility during cases involving sexual assault. Refrences: 1) McQuail D et al., Victimology: A Textbook On The Study Of Victimization (2007), Routledge pg 174–175 2) Centers For Disease Control And Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf 3) http://www2austliieduau/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/othersubmissions2078htm 4)https://wwwpubmedcentralncihgovnciphippir2012003639spotlight_on_abuse 5) https://theconversationcom/sexually-assaulted-and-shamed-why-womenwhoveexperiencedsexualviolencearebeingpunishedtwiceover 128269 6) Scoular J et al., Exploring 'silence': Social Organisation Of Disclosure Of Nonconsensual Sex Amongst Young PeopleIn London And Leeds (2008), Journal Of Social Welfare And Family Law pp 137–151 7 ) Indian Express http:/indianexpresscom/_amparticleshow810897 8 ) UN Women https://asiapacificunwomenorginfilelibrarypublicationsfactsheetrapeandsexualassaultinIndia pdf 9 ) Bharat S Bhise et al., Attitudes Towards Rape Victims: Comparisons Between Male And Female College Students From India (2015), Behavior Science Research pp 59–63 10 ) Jha P et al., Understanding Gender Discrimination In India Through An Analysis Of Attitudes Towards Women's Rights To Education Employment Mobility Sexuality Autonomy And Marriage Choice(2018), International Journal Of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences pp 195–210 11 ) No Blame Game Campaign http://noblamegamecom 12 ) RDVSA - About Ushttp//rdvsaorgauaboutus 13) RDVSA - Our Servicethttps//rdvsaorgauservices